Page:Romance of the Rose (Ellis), volume 2.pdf/79

But let the wretched dupe perceive
That nought his folly can retrieve;9100
Repentance comes alas! too late.
Nay, even though a kindly fate
Procure for him a wife both good
And gentle, in all likelihood,
Unless a fool, will he repent
His folly ere a year be spent.

Good women are rare A virtuous woman! Nay, I swear
By good St. Denis, that’s more rare
Than is a phoenix.
Thus hath said
Valerius: Whosoe’er will wed9110
Or love a woman finds much pain
And many troubles, while his gain
Is nought. More rare than phoenix? Nay
’Twere apter simile to say
Rarer by far than snow-white crow,
How fine soe’er their bodies show.

But natheless am I free to say
(Lest that the women of to-day
Should count me neither just nor fair),
I’ve no intention to declare9120
All womankind alike, but eyes
Of lynx the man need have who tries
So fair a bird on earth to find
As any one of womankind
Who’s faultless—secular or nun—
Black swans are commoner ’neath the sun.
Such birds on earth are sparsely sown,
As lightly may, pardee, be known.